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The Department of Horticulture of Auburn University is seeking candidates and nominations for the position of Department Head. The anticipated start date is June 1, 2012. 

Responsibilities: The Department Head serves as the senior faculty administrator in the Department of Horticulture and promotes excellence in teaching, research and extension/outreach programs. The position demands performance of professional level duties requiring leadership, vision, strategic planning, and decision-making skills in the management of departmental programs and personnel. The Head is responsible for recruitment, supervision and evaluation of personnel, department budgets, extramural funding, and professional development of faculty and staff, as well as oversight of the departmental greenhouse facilities that are located on the Auburn University campus. The Head will also serve as an advocate and representative of the department/college interests, needs and programs through interactions and fund raising activities.  The Head establishes and maintains working relationships with other departments within the university, commodity groups, agribusiness representatives, governmental and private agencies in addition to students and alumni.   Effective communication skills are essential in the position. The successful candidate will report to the Dean, College of Agriculture (http://www.ag.auburn.edu) and maintain a close collaborative working relationship with administrators and staff in the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station (http://www.aaes.auburn.edu/) and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (http://www.aces.edu/main/).

Qualifications: The candidate must have an earned PhD from an accredited institution in Horticulture or related field with an emphasis in Horticulture.  The selected candidate must qualify for the rank of Full Professor with tenure upon hire at Auburn University. The successful candidate must possess excellent interpersonal, communication, demonstrated leadership and organizational skills. In addition, the successful candidate must have demonstrated excellence in teaching, research, and/or extension/outreach activities.  A demonstrated ability to secure and sustain extramural funding and leadership/service activities in professional societies are required.  Knowledge and commitment to the unique mission of the land-grant university is also required. The successful candidate must meet eligibility requirements to work in the United States at the time appointment is scheduled to begin and continue working legally for the proposed term of employment. 

Application Procedures: The search will continue until position is filled but to ensure consideration for the position, applicants are encouraged to apply by February 17, 2012. Nominations are strongly encouraged.  Applicants must submit the following: 1) a letter of interest stating professional goals and philosophy of leadership, 2) a complete curriculum vita, and 3) names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of five professional references to the following contact.  Only complete application materials will be considered.

Dr. Donald Conner
Chair, Search Committee
Department of Poultry Science
 201 Poultry Science Building
Auburn University, AL 36849-5417
Phone: 334.844.2639
Fax: 334.844.2641
Email: connede@auburn.edu

The Department of Horticulture (http://www.ag.auburn.edu/hort/) consists of 19 tenure-track faculty, 15 administrative professionals and support staff, 29 graduate students and 161 undergraduate students.

Auburn University is one of the nation’s premier land, sea and space grant institutions with an enrollment of more than 25,400 graduate and undergraduate students. The University is located in the city of Auburn in east-central Alabama approximately
100 miles southwest of Atlanta, GA and southeast of Birmingham, AL and is about 60 miles from the state capitol (Montgomery).  Visit www.auburn.edu for more information.

Minorities and women are encouraged to apply
Auburn University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

 

 

Last Updated: December 12, 2011